Common aspects of Hinduism

Hinduism is an ocean of faith. So what do most Hindus believe? Knowing this becomes important when we want to communicate this to children, young people and non-Hindus. When summarized in bulleted points, this can be explained in a few minutes to anyone as an introduction to the subject.

This is one such list presented by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami of the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order, Kailasa Paramapara.

Readers can explore, expand and elaborate on this list to create their own list.

What do Most Hindus Believe?

Hindus belive in divinity of the Vedas, the world’s most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God’s word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion which has neither beginning nor end

Hindus believe in a one, all pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifested Reality

Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution.

Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds

Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all

karmas have been resolved and moksha, spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth is attained. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny.

Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotionals create a communication with all these devas and Gods

Hindus believe that a spiritually awakened master, or Satguru, is essential to know the Transcendental Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self enquiry and meditation

Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore the need to practice ahimsa, ‘non-injury’

Hindus believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine religious paths are facets of God’s Pure Love and Light, deserving tolerance and understanding